Safety apparatus for shutter button in camera

ABSTRACT

An apparatus comprising a rotary member rotatable in operative relation to a film winding operation, a driven member supported on the rotary member and rotatable with respect to the rotary member within a limited range, a release member downwardly movable by a shutter release operation and an engageable member urged toward the driven member by the winding operation but adapted to be urged toward the release member when the shutter is released. The engageable member has a portion engageable in and disengageable from a transport lock notch in the driven member and another portion engageable in and disengageable from a release lock portion of the release member, the engageable member being disposed with at least one of the engageable and disengageable portions engaged in the notch or the release lock portion. The apparatus further includes means for braking the driven member at least from an intermediate stage of the winding operation until the completion of the winding operation and means for retaining the driven member at its overcocked position upon the driven member reaching this position and permitting the rotary member to rotate reversely by the overcocked amount.

United States Patent [191 Nakamura et al.

111] 3,754,454 [451 Aug. 28, 1973 SAFETY APPARATUS FOR SHUTTER BUTTON INCAMERA [75] Inventors: Hiroshl Nakamun, Sakai; Akio Okamoto, Osaka, bothof Japan [73] Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Keisha,

Osaka, Japan 221 Filed: Jan. 12,1973

[21] Appl. No.: 323,016

[52] U.S. Cl. 95/31 R, 95/31 AC, 95/31 FL [51] Int. Cl. G03b 17/42, G03b19/04 [58] Field of Search 95/31 R, 31 AC, 31 FL [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,231,731 2/1941 Mihalyi 95/31 AC 3,633,480 1/1972Kondo....' 95/31 AC Primary Examiner-Robert P. Greincr v Attorney-JohnC. Holman, Stanley Wolder et al.

57 ABSTRACT A An apparatus comprising a rotary member rotatable inoperative relation to a film winding operation, a driven membersupported on the rotary member and rotatable with respect to the rotarymember within a limited range, a release member downwardly movable by ashutter release operation and an engageable member urged toward thedriven member by the winding operation but adapted to be urged towardthe release member when the shutter is released. The engageable memberhas a portion engageable in and disengageable from a transport locknotch in the driven member and another portion engageable in anddisengageable from a release lock portion of the release member, theengageable member being disposed with at least one of the engageable anddisengageable portions engaged in the notch or the release lock portion.The apparatus further includes means for braking the driven member atleast from an inten'nediate stage of the winding operation until thecompletion of the winding operation and means for retaining the drivenmember at its overcocked position upon the driven member reaching thisposition and permitting the rotary member to'rotate reversely by theovercocked amount.

6 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures Patented Aug; 28, 1973 5 SheetsSheet 1 FigPRIOR ART Pa tented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,454

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,454

5 Sheets-Shet 5 Patented A g. 28, 1973 3,754,454

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.5

Fig.74

Fig.7?

FigJ6 SAFETY APPARATUS FOR SHUTTER BUTTON IN CAMERA BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a safety apparatus for shutterbutton in cameras, more particularly to improve ments in a shutterbutton safety apparatus for prevent ing inadvertent depression of theshutter button unless the film is wound up.

With this type of camera, the shutter is cocked simultaneously with filmtransport to render the shutter releasable and the completion of anexposure by shutter release makes it possible to wind up the film whenthe camera operates normally. However, the film transport lock andshutter button lock in the conventional camera of this type have thedrawback that the shutter is releasable immediately before thecompletion of film transport or, even where the shutter is unreleasablebefore the completion of film transport, the film can be wound up withthe shutter button in its depressed position, with the result that theshutter can not be cocked although the film will be wound up.

To overcome such problem, a device has already been provided asdisclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 8461/1970 by N.Sakai. The drawback of the conventional device has been overcome by theproposed device which includes, as fragmentarily shown in FIG. 1, a disca rotatably mounted on a winding shaft b and a disc c fixed to the shaftb, the disc and the disc c being associated with each other by means ofa pin d and a notch e with a given amount of play provided in thedirection of rotation. A spring f acts on the discs a and c to urge thedisc a in one direction. The discs a' and c are formed with transportlock notches g and h respectively, the notch h in the disc c beingcircumferentially greater than the notchvg'in the disc a by the amountof the play, the construction being such that when oneedge of the notche in the circumferential direction is in contact with the pin d underthe action of the spring f as seen in the drawing, one end of the notchg is in registry with that of the notch h with respect to thecircumferential direction. When the winding shaft b is rotated in aclockwise direction by a film winding operation, the disc a rotatestherewith and, before the completion of the film winding operation,unillustrated means completely'cocks the shutter. Film transport iscompleted in an overcooked state, whereupon a lug m ofan engageablemember k for transport lock engagesin the transport lock notches g and hwhose end edgesare in registry at one side so as to lock the transport.If the winding lever is then relieved of the operating force, thewinding shaft b and the disc 0 rotate reversely ina counterclockwisedirection by the amount of the aforementioned play. The engageablemember k has a lock portion q engageable in a notch p at the lower endof a release member n and, while the lug m is out of engagement with thenotches g and h, the lock portion q engages in the notch p of therelease member m to prevent'the downward movement of the release membern and thereby avoid inadvertent shutter release. The shutter is renderedreleasable only when the lug m engages in the notches g and h, with thelock portion q disengaged from the notch p of the release member n.Accordingly, unlessthe film is completely wound up, the shutter isunreleasable and unless the lug m is disengaged from the notchesg and hafter shutter release, the film can not be wound up.

When taking a photograph with a camera incorporating such device using aself-timer, the photographer may accidentally actuate the self-timerbefore he winds up the film. In such situation, a depressing force willact on the shutter release member and the lock portion q of theengageable member k engaged in the notch p will be pressed on by the endface of the notch p. If the film is then wound up, with the engageablemember k thus arrested by the release member, the engageable member kwill be prevented from counterclockwise rotation at the aforementionedovercocked position, with the result that the lug m cannot engage in thenotches g and h. If the winding lever is then relieved of the operatingforce, the disc a will follow the counterclockwise rotation of the disc0 by the amount corresponding to the aforesaid amount of play, so thatthe notch g of the disc a will be deviated from the path of movement ofthe lug m. Consequently, even if the release member n is relieved of thedepressing force to free the lock portion q from the pressingengagement, the lug m will hit the outer periphery of the disc a withoutbeing permitted to rotate further counterclockwise. Thus the lockportion q is unable to disengage from the notch p of the release memberTo sum up, if the film is wound up with the release member (shutterbutton) in its depressed position, the shutter becomes unreleasable inspite of the completion of shutter cocking operation and filmtransport.-

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to eliminate allthe drawbacks of the conventional device described and to provide animproved shutter button safety apparatus by which even when the film hasbeen wound up witha lock member for preventing inadvertent depression ofa release member already arrested against action by the release member,a normal shutter release operation can beeffected by relieving therelease member of the depressing force.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus ofthe type described which is simplified in its construction to thegreatest possible extent and which can be manufactured at a reducedcost.

To fulfil these objects, the apparatus of this invention comprises arotary member rotatable in operative relation to a film windingoperation, a driven member supported coaxially with the rotary memberand rotatable with respect to the rotary member within a rangelimited'bythe rotary member, the driven member further being rotatable to followthe rotary member in the course of the winding operation, a releasemember downwardly movable by a shutter release operation and anengageable member so urged as to pivotally move toward the driven memberin operative relation to the winding operation but adapted to be urgedfor pivotalmovement toward the release member when the shutter isreleased, the engageable member having a portion engageable in anddisengageable from a transport lock notch in the driven member andanother portion engageable in and disengageable from a release lockportion of the release member, the engageable member being disposed withat least one of the engagef able and disengageable portions engaged inthe notch or the release lock portion. The apparatus further in cludesmeans for braking the driven member at least from an intermediate stageof the winding operation until the completion of the winding operationand means for retaining the driven member at its overcocked positionupon the driven member reaching this position during the windingoperation so as to prevent the driven member from reverse rotation evenwhen the winding force is removed. Thus, even when the en-' gageablemember is pressed on at its one engageable portion by the release lockportion of the release member and is thereby rendered inoperative, theengageable portion can be disengaged from the release lock portion bythe release member being relieved of the depressing force so as to lockthe transport.

According to this invention, film transport and shutter cocking areeffected at the same time by a film winding action and the film islocked against transport at the overcooked position, without anypossibility of rendering the shutter unreleasable. Upon completion ofthe shutter operation by shutter release, the release member is lockedto preclude any accidental depression of the shutter button.

Other objects and features of this invention will become more apparentfrom the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingthe construction of principal part of shutter button safety deviceheretofore known;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the mechanism of an embodiment ofthis invention;

FIG. 3 is a development in section showing the principal part of theembodiment of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 to 8 are views illustrating the operation of principal part ofthe same as it is seen from its under side;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the mechanism of another embodimentof this invention;

FIGS. to 13 are views illustrating the operation of principal part ofthe same as it is seen from above; and

FIGS. 14 to 17 are views illustrating the operation of principal part ofanother modified embodiment as it is seen from above.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 shows an embodiment ofthis invention in which the parts are shown after the film has beenwound up. Depression of a shutter button 1 in the illustrated statepushes down a release member 2 supporting the shutter button 1, wherebya forked plate 3 fixedly mounted on the member 2 is moved down. Theforked plate 3 has a forked end in engagement with a clutch gear 5supported on a shaft 4 in upwardly and downwardly movable manner. Whenmoved down, the forked plate 3 also moves down the clutch gear 5. Theshaft 4 further carries gears 6 and 7. A pin 6a projecting from theunder face of the gear 6 is positioned in the path of rotation of a pin5a on the clutch gear 5. When the clutch gear 5 is in the illustratedposition before the downward movement, the pin 5a is in engagement withthe pin 6a. The gear 6 has a pin 6b on its upper face. A pin 7aextending from the under face of the gear 7 is positioned in the path ofrotation of the pin 6b and is engageable with the pin 6b. Accordingly,when the clutch gear 5 is driven in a clockwise direction by a shuttercocking operation to be described later, the pins 5a, 6a, 6b and 7acause the gears 6 and 7 to rotate to cock the shutter. The downwardmovement of the clutch gear 5 frees the pin 6a from engagement with thepin 5a, rendering the gear 6 rotatable in a counterclockwise direction.The counterclockwise rotation of the gear 6 permits the gear 7 to rotatein a counterclockwise direction.

The downward movement of the clutch gear 5 causes an unillustratedoperating member to close a power switch (not shown) of anelectromagnetic winding 8 to apply current to the winding and energizean electromagnet 9, which in turn attracts an attractable piece 10. Thiscauses unillustrated known means to move a mirror lever 11 in acounterclockwise direction to urge a reflecting mirror 13 upward in thesame direction.

about a pin 12.

Immediately before the counterclockwise rotation of the mirror lever 11is completed, an end 110 of the mirror lever 11 turns an initiatinglever l4 in a counterclockwise direction to release a switch lever 15from the lever 14.

When thus released, the switch lever 15 is urged in a clockwisedirection by a spring 16. A lug 15b of the lever therefore pushes afirst blind latch lever 17 in a clockwise direction out of engagementwith a first blind retainer plate 18. At the same time, a pin 150 madeof an electrically insulating material actuates a trigger switch 19. Aswell known, the trigger switch 19 is included in an exposure timecontrolling electric circuit for automatically controlling exposure bycontrolling the energizing time of the electromagnet 9. The actuation ofthe switch initiates charging of a capacitor which is one of the controlelements of the circuit.

The first blind retainer plate 18 is fixed to a shaft 20 which fixedlycarries a first blind gear 21 meshing with the gear 6. The retainerplate 18 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by a shutter cockingoperation to wind up a first blind 23 on the shaft 20 and is latched bythe lever 17, with an unillustrated spring in the shaft 22 tensioned bythe shaft 22.

Thus when the first blind latch lever 17 releases the retainer plate 18,the force of the spring within the shaft 22 rotates the shaft 22 in aclockwise direction to wind up the blind 23 since pins Saand 60 on thegears 5 and 6 areout of engagement with each other. With this movement,theretainer plate 18 and the gear 21 rotate in a clockwise direction torotate the gear 6 counterclockwise. In this way,'the first blind 23travels to open the shutter. I I a 1 Even when the aforementionedclockwise rotation of the switch lever 15 permits the lug 15b to releasea pin 25b on an overcocking lever 25 and thereby frees the lever 25 frommechanical retention by the lever l5, a

pin 250 on the lever 25 is retained in engagement with a second blindrelease lever 26 while the attractable piece 10 on the release lever 26is attracted to the electromagnet 9. Thus the lever 26 is in engagementwith the overcocking lever 25 to retain a second blind 24 against traveland prevent a shutter closing action.

When the voltage across the capacitor reaches a trig.- ger voltage, theaforesaid control circuit interrupts current supply to theelectromagnetic winding 8 to deenergize the electromagnet 9 and free theattractable piece 10 from its attraction, whereupon a spring 29 forcesthe lever 25 to push the release lever 26 in a clockwise directionthrough the pin 25a in engagement with the lever 26. The release lever26in turn pushes a second blind latch lever 27 in a clockwise directionby its lug 26a to release a second blind retainer plate 28 from thelever 27.

The second blind retainer plate 28 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 30which also fixedly carries a rear blind gear 31 meshing with the gear 7and is rotated counterclockwise by a shutter cocking operation to windup the second blind 24 on the shaft 30 and at the same time tensions anunillustrated spring housed in a shaft 32 by means of the shaft 32. Theplate 28 is adapted to be engaged by the latch lever 27.

When the retainer plate 28 is freed from the engagement at its cockedposition, the shaft 32, spring-biased in a clockwise direction, winds upthe second blind 24 to travel the same and thereby close the shutter asin the case of the first blind 23. In operative relation to thismovement, the shaft 30, retainer plate 28 and gear 31 rotate in aclockwise direction to rotate the gear 7 counterclockwise.

The gear 6 which rotates in a counterclockwise direction by virtue ofthe foregoing travel of the first blind 23 brings the pin 6b thereoninto engagement with the tail end 33a of a first lever 33 immediatelybefore the first blind 23 completes its travel, causing the lever 33 ito move slightly in a clockwise direction. Consequently, the front end33b of the lever-33 comes into engagement with a pin 34a extending fromthe front end of a second lever 34 and thereby moves thelever 34 in aclockwise direction, with the result that the tail end 34b thereof isbrought to the path of movement of the pin 7a on the gear 7. The firstlever 33 is stopped by a stopper 35. v

The gear 7 which rotates in a counterclockwise direction by virtue ofthe foregoing travel of the second blind 24 brings the pin 7a intoengagement with the tail end 34b of the second lever 34 just before thesecond blind 24 completes its travel which tail end has been brought tothe aforementionedposition by the travel of the first blind 23, wherebythe lever 34 is further rotated clockwise, permitting the pin 34a on itsfront end to push the tail end 360 of the unlocking lever 36 against theaction of a spring 37 and to thereby turn the lever 36 in a clockwisedirection. An auxiliary unlocking lever 38 having a bent end 38a inengagement with a stepped portion 36b of the lever 36 is thereforereleased and rotates in a counterclockwise direction under the action ofa spring 39 and unlocks a film transport lock through a link plate 40 towhich the lever 38 is connected by a pin 38b. v

When the control circuit operates normally the cam-v era mechanism willoperate in the foregoing mariner. If the power source battery has beendrained however, little or no current will flow through theelectromagnetic winding 8 even if the main switch is closed bydepressing the shutter button 1, with the result that the electromagnet9 will not have sufficient attraction to retain the attractable piece 10in contact therewith.

I Consequently, when. the first blind latch lever 17 is driven clockwiseto unlatch the first blind retainer plate 18 by the switch lever inoperative relation to the jumping up of the mirror 13, the overcockinglever is simultaneously freed from mechanical retention by the switchlever 15, permitting the spring 29 to rotate the lever 25 in a clockwisedirection along with the second blind release lever 26 and second blindlatch lever 27 so as to release the second blind retainer plate 28. As aresult, the first and second blinds 23 and 24 travel at the same timeand the shutter will not be opened.

Due to the simultaneous travel of the first and second blinds 23 and 24,the gears 6 and 7 meshing with the Int gears 21 and 31 respectivelyrotate together, with the pins 6b and 7a thereon in engagement with eachother. Although the pin 6b will normally engage with the tail end 330 ofthe first lever 33 to rotate the lever 33 in a clockwise direction,causing the front end 33b thereof to push the pin 34a on the secondlever 34 and thereby bring the tail end 34b of the second lever 34 tothe path of movement of the pin 70, the pin 7a moving around along withthe pin 6b passes the intended position of the tail end 34 just beforeit is brought to this position. Consequently, the pins6b and 7a arebrought to a position between the tail ends 33a and 34b of the levers 33and 34, so that the pin 7a prevents the clockwise rotation of the secondlever 34 without permitting the pin 34a to engage with the unlockinglever 36. Thus, the auxiliary unlocking lever 38 remains in engagementwith the lever 36, with the transport lock retained in locked state. Itis therefore impossible to perform the next film winding operation.

vTo overcome such situation to be experienced if the battery getsconsumed, there is provided a battery case 41 which is rotatable fromoutside and which has a projection 41a so that the unlocking lever 36can be operated by the projection 41 through a release lever 42. Thusclockwise rotation of the battery case 41 causes the projection 41a topush the release lever 42 toward a counterclockwise direction, allowingits end 42a to push a lug 360 of the lever 36 and rotate the lever 36clockwise. The auxiliary unlocking lever 38 is therefore released tounlock the film transport lock.

The transport lock will be described later.

When a winding lever 43 is turned in counterclockwise direction afterthe shutter has been tripped and the transpprt lock has been unlocked, agear 44 associated with the winding lever 43 by means of anunillustrated ratchet rotates a spool-associated gear 47 and a sprocketgear-associated 48 through gears 45 and 46 to rotate a spool andsprocket and wind up the unillustrated film. At the same time, the cluchgear Sis rotated in a clockwise direction through a gear 49 which iscoaxial with the gear 48 for rotation therewith. As a result, the gears6 and 7 are driven together through the pins 5a, 6a, and 7a to rotatethe first and second blind gears 21 and 31 in a counterclockwisedirection.

The counterclockwise rotation of the gears 21 and 31 further rotates theshafts 20 and 30 and first and second blind retainer plates 18 and 28 towind up the first and second blinds 23 and 24 on the shafts 20 and 30respectively, while tensioning the springs within the shaft 22 and 32.The shutter cocking operation completes upon the engagement of the latchlevers l7 and 27 with the retainer plates 18 and 28 respectively.

In the foregoing embodiment, the film transport lock and safety lock forthe shutter button have the following construction 1 A first notcheddisc 50, a'rotary member, is coaxial with the spool-associated gear 47for rotation therewith. Positioned on the notched disc. 50 is a secondnotched disc 51 serving as a driven member and having an outer diameterslightly greater than that of the disc 50, the disc Slbeing rotatableabout a shaft 47a. The discs 50 and 51 are formed with locking notches52a and 52b respectively. The first disc 50 has another notch 5011 otherthan the notch 52a for receiving a pin 51a extending from the secondnotched disc 51 so as to. limit the rotation of the second notched disc51 relateve to the first disc 50 to a given range, the arrangement beingsuch that the second notched disc 51 follows the rotation of the firstdisc 50 during the winding operation, with the edges of the notches 52aand 52b in registry with each other in the circumferential direction.The limited range difined by the notch 50a and pin 51a is such thatafter both discs 50 and 51 have rotated to an overcooked position uponcompletion of the winding operation, the first notched disc 50 isallowed to rotate reversely by the overcooked amount, with the secondnotched disc 51 in stationary state.

A transport look lever 53, a constituent of an engageable member, has atits one end a look pawl 53a engageable in and disengageable from thenotches 52a and 52b of the discs 50 and 51. A shutter button look lever54, another constituent of the engageable memher, is formed at its oneend with a look pawl 54a 'engageable in and disengageable' from arelease lock portion 2a in the lower end of the release member 2. Bothlevers 53 and 54 are pivoted as at 55 to a camera body 56 and connectedtogether by a spring 57 acting to pivotally move the levers 53 and 54together. A rear portion 54b of the lever 54 is elestically in contactwith a pin 53b on the lever 53.

A spring 58 somewhat stronger than the spring 57 acts on the transportlock lever 53 in such direction that the pawl 53a of the lever 53 willbe disengaged from the notches 52a and 52b of the discs 50 and 51.

A locking effecting lever 59 pivoted at 60 on the camera body 56 has oneend 59a in engagement with the pin 53b on the look lever 53 and theother end oarrying a pin 59b engaged in a slot 40a in an end of a linkplate 40. A spring 61 is provided on the lever 59 to urge the look lever53 in such direction that its pawl 53a will engage in the notches 52aand 52b of the discs 50 and 51 in operative relation to the shuttercocking operation. The spring 61 exerts a force greater than the sum ofthe forces of the springs 57 and 58 but'lower than the force of thespring 39 acting on the auxiliary unlocking lever 38, the spring 61acting in the opposite direction with respect to the spring 39.

FIG. 3 is a development in vertical section showing the lock mechanismof the FIG. 2. FIGS. 4 to 8 show the same as seen from the under side ofthe mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

When film transport is completed, the auxiliary unlocking lever 38 hasits bent end 38a engaged by the unlocking lever 36, so that the lockingeffecting lever 59 under the action of the spring 61 pushes the pin 53bof the look lever 53 against the action of the spring 58, bringing thepawl 53a of the lever 53 into engagement with notches 52a and 52b of thefirst and second discs 50 and 51 for looking, while at the same time,permitting the shutter button lock lever 54 to follow the movement ofthe look lever 53 under the action of the spring 57 to disengage itspawl 54a from the release lock portion 2a. The shutter button 1 cantherefore be depressed (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

Upon completion of shutter release through the depression of the shutterbutton 1, the auxiliary unlocking lever 38 moves pivotally out ofengagement with the unlocking lever 36 under the spring 39 to move thelink plate 40 in the direction of the arrow A in FIGS. 2 and 5, wherebylooking effecting lever 59 having a pin 59 engaged in the slot 40a inthe link plate 40 is moved pivotally against the action of the spring61. Accordingly, the transport lock lever 53 under the action of thespring 58, follows the movement of the locking effecting lever 59 todisengage its pawl 53a from the notches 52a and 52b and, at the sametime, to cause its pin 53b to push the rear portion 54b of the shutterbutton look lever 54. Thus the pawl 54a engages in the release lockportion 2a of the release member 2 to permit film transport and look theshutter button 1 against depression(see FIG. 5).

In the case where the power source battery has been consumed, the firstand second blinds 23 and 24 will travel at the same time and thetransport look will not be unlocked as already'described, but thebattery dase 41, when rotated, frees the auxiliary unlocking lever 38 tomove the link plate 40 in the direction of arrow A, with the result thatthe transport lock will be freed and the shutter button will be lockedin the same manner as above. I

When the winding lever 43 is turned for film transport, the first andsecond blinds 23 and 24 are wound up at the same time as alreadydescribed. At the final stage of this movement, an unillustrated cockinglever moves the auxiliary unlocking lever 38 in a clockwise direction(see FIG. 2) against the force of the spring 39 to bring the same intoengagement with the unlocking lever 36 which is urged by the spring 37in a counterclockwise direction. This movement of the lever 38 bringsthe link plate 40 in the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6 asindicated by the arrow B.

Further the rotation of the spoolassociated gear 47 rotates the firstnotched disc 50 mounted on the same shaft 47a and the second notcheddisc 51 superposed on the disc.

,The movement of the link plate 40 in the direction of the arrow Brenders the locking efi'eoting lever 59 rotatable under the action ofthe spring 61, permitting the lever 59 to urge the transport look lever53 with its one end 59a in such direction that the pawl 53a will engagein the notches 52a and 52b. At this time, however, the first and seconddiscs 50 and 51 have already been initiated into rotation by virtue ofrotation of the spool associated gear 47. Consequently, the pawl 53a isbrought into contact with the outer periphery of the second disc 51 butis prevented from engaging into the notches 52a and 52b, the pawl 53athus acting on the second notched disc 51 as a braking member. Morespecifically, the lock lever 53, looking'effeoting lever 59 and spring61 serve as braking means for the second disc.

The second notched disc 51 follows the disc 50 to rotate thereon and isbraked by the frictional force due to the contact of the pawl 53a withits outer periphery,

1 but when the notched edge 50a of the first disc 50 rotating by virtueof the winding operation comes into contact with the pin 51a asindicatedin the phantom line in FIG. 6, the first disc 50 overcomes thefrictional force and rotates the seconddisc 51. I

When the notches 52a and 52b come to a positioii where the pawl'53a ofthe transport lock lever 53 is engageable in the notches (the shutter isalready in an overcooked position, with the film completely wound up),the spring 61 acting on the locking effecting lever 59 brings the pawl53a of the looking lever 53 into the notches 52a and 52b to prevent thediscs 50 and 51 from rotation for transport locking. At the same time,the shutter button lock lever 54 follows this movement under the actionof the spring 57 to cause its pawl 54a to disengage from the releaselock portion 2a of the release member 2, rendering the shutter button 1depressible.

When the winding lever 43 is relieved of the operating force in thisstate, the spool-associated gear 47 and the first notched disc 50 rotatein the reverse direction by the overcocked amount and thesprocket-associated gear 48 and the group of gears 49, 5, 6, 7, 21 and31 also rotate reversely, with the latch levers l7 and 27 brought intoengagement with the first and second blind retainer plates 18 and 28.The second disc 51 does not rotate reversely at this time. The parts aretherefore in the film wound-up position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and 4.

FIG. 7 illustrates the parts as the shutter button 1 has been depressedupon shutter release. In this state, it is impossible to transport thefilm. The movement of the link plate 40 in the direction of the arrow Asubsequent to the tripping of the shutter moves the locking effectinglever 59 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 7) against the action of thespring 61, rendering the pawl 53a disengageable from the notches 52a and52b of the discs 50 and 51 under the action of the spring 58, but thepawl 54a of the shutter button lock lever 54 contacts the outer face ofthe release member 2 and is prevented from further movement, with theresult that the lever 54inin contact with the pin 53b retains the locklever 53 against the action of the spring 58. Thus the pawl 53a isprevented from disengagement from the notches 52a and 52b.

FIG. 8 illustrates a case in which the self-timer has been erroneouslyinitiated into operation prior to the transport of film when it is usedfor taking a photograph If the unillustrated self-timer is operatedbefore the film is wound up, the depressing force is delivered to therelease member 2 through a self-timer actuating lever 62, causing theend face of the release lock portion 2a to press the pawl 54a of theshutter button lock lever 54 to prevent the pawl from disengagement fromthe lock portion 2a. The self-timer of course stops at the positionwhere the pawl 54a is pressed.

When the film is wound up in this state, the link plate 40 moves in thedirection of the arrow B, forcing the locking effecting lever 59 to movepivotally under the action of the spring 61 to urged the pawl 53a towardthe notches 52a and 52b against the spring 58. Although the shutterbutton lock lever 54 is held against rotation with its pawl 54a pressedby the release lock portion 2a under the action of the self-timer, thelock lever 53 can be pivotally moved by the locking effecting lever 59with the force of its spring 61 against the springs 57 and 58, inasmuchas the lever 53 and lever 54 are operatively connected together by thespring 57. Accordingly, even if the shutter button lock lever 53 is heldarrested by the release member 2, it is possible to wind up the film.When turned to the overcocking position, the winding lever 43 causes thepawl 53a of the ment with the release lock portion 2a to unlock the 7shutter button. When actuated, the self-timer will release the shutterto take a photograph.

The engageable member for the transport lock consisting of the transportlock lever 53 and the shutter button lock lever 54 in the foregoingembodiment may alternatively comprise one engageable member 70 having atransport lock pawl 70a and a shutter button lock pawl 70b as shown inFIG. 9.

FIG. 9 shows the parts when the film transport and shutter cocking havebeen completed. Depression of a shutter button 71 causes a releasemember 72 and a clutch gear 73 to move down, with its pin 73a disengagedfrom an arcuate window 74a in a gear 74 to free the gear 74.Unillustrated means then moves a first blind latch lever 75 in acounterclockwise direction to release a first blind retainer plate 76which is fixedly mounted on a first blind gear 77. The gear 77 mesheswith a gear 78 which is secured to a shaft 79 for winding a first blind80.

Accordingly, the disengagement of the first blind retainer plate 76 fromthe latch lever 75 allows the first blind 80 to be wound on anunillustrated shaft by the force ofa spring housed in the shaft to openthe shutter.

By being wound up on a shaft 82, a second blind 81 tensionsa spring inan unillustrated shaft. A gear 83 mounted fixedly on the shaft 82 mesheswith a second blind gear 84 which is adapted to be retained in cockedposition by the engagement, of unillustrated latch lever with a secondblind retainer plate. As in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the second blindis freed from the retention by the second blind latch lever under thecontrol of an unillustrated'exposure control electric circuit energizedupon the initiation of travel of the first blind or upon the lapse of apredetermined exposure time. The second blind is therefore wound up onthe springincorporating shaft to travel and thereby close the shutter.

In operative relation to the shutter release, unillustrated means urgesa link plate 85 leftward to move a locking effecting lever 86 in aclockwise direction against the action of its spring 87. In contact withan end 86a of the locking effecting member 86 is a pin c on theengageable member 70 urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring88 which is weaker than the spring 87. Consequently, the engageablemember 70 tends to follow the clockwise movement of the lever 86 forcounter clockwise rotation. However, while the release member 72 is inits depressed position, the pawl 70b of the 'engageablemembe'r 70 cannotengage in a release lock portion 72a of the release member 72 butcontacts the outer face of the release member 72 as seen in FIG. 10,with the result that the pawl 70a remains in engagement with a notch 89ain a notched disc 89. Therefore, the disc 89 is retained against rotation to impede a film winding operation. I

When the shutter button 71 is freed'from-the under the action of thespring 88, with the pawl 70a:

disengaged from the notch 89a of the disc 89. The parts are nowpositioned as seen in FIG. 11. In this state, the

film can be wound up but the shutter button is locked againstinadvertent depression.

A winding lever 90 rotates the clutchgear 73 through gears 91 and 92when winding the film and cocks the shutter through the operativelyassociated mechanism including the gears 74, 77, 78, 84 and 83. The filmis wound up by rotating the gear 93, spool-associated gear 94,unillustrated sprocket-associated gear, etc.

The transport of the desired length of film is completed by the shuttercocking member being rotated to an overcocked position.

The spool-associated gear 94 rotates with a rotary member 96 on a spoolshaft 95. The notched disc 89, a driven member, is positioned above therotary member 96, and pins 96a on the rotary member 96 engage in arcuatewindows 8912 of the notched disc 89, the disc 89 thus being rotatable bythe pin 96a. The arcuate window 89b has such circumferential length thateven when the rotary member 96, driven to the overcocked position by thefilm transport, is reversely rotated by the overcocked amount, thenotched disc 89 will remain stationary, permitting the reverse rotationof the rotary member 96. A braking member 97 made of a spring materialbears against the outer periphery of the disc 89 elastically tofrictionally brake its rotation so as to retain the disc 89 in itsovercocked position against reverse rotation in spite of the reverserotation of the rotary member from its overcocked position. to When thewinding lever 90 is turned in a counterclockwise direction as the partsare rendered operable for film transport as seen in FIG. 11, the shutterwill be cocked as already described, while the rotary member 96 rotatesin a counterclockwise direction along with: the spool shaft 95 to windup the film. Despite the initiation of rotation of the rotary member 96,the notched disc 89 which is brake by the braking member 97 will notstart to rotate immediately. After each of the pins 96a on the rotarymember 96 has moved from one end of the arcuate window 89b to the otherend thereof, namely after the rotary member 96 has rotated through anamount corresponding to the play between the windows 89b and pins 96a,the disc 89 is driven by the rotary member 96 through the pins 96a.Accordingly, even if the rotary member 96 makes one turn of rotation,the notched disc 89 does not rotate one turn but the notch 89a isshifted from the position of FIG. 11 only to the position of FIG. 12. Inthis state, the shutter has been completely cocked and, through rotationof the rotary member 96, the parts are overcocked. Upon completion offilm transport, the rotary member 96 will be driven in the reversedirection.

Upon completion of the shutter cocking operation as illustrated in FIG.12, the link plate 85 is freed from the unillustrated means whichretains the same at the lefthand position and rendered movable rightwardunder the action of the spring 87 acting on the locking effecting lever86. Consequently, the end 86a of the lever 86 as seen in FIG. 13,whereupon the pawl a engages in the notch 890 under the action of thespring 87 to lock the transport.

Before this state is achieved, the shutter button lock pawl 70b remainsin engagement with the release lock portion 720 of the release member 72to prevent the depression of the shutter button 71. Since the partsillustrated in FIG. 13 are in the overcocked state, the mechanism isfree of such objection that the shutter will be released immediatelybefore the completion of the film'transport.

When the winding lever 90 shown in the FIG. 13 is relieved of theoperating force, the group of gears and the rotary member 96 arereversely rotated by the overcocked amount and are returned to the stateof FIGS. 9 and 10. As a result, the pins 96a on the rotary member 96 arereturned from the position of FIG. 13 to that of FIG. 10. The shutter istherefore releasable.

It will be experienced that the shutter button 71 is depressed withoutwinding up the film, causing the end face of the release lock portion72a of the release member 72 to arrest the shutter button lock pawl 70bof the engageable member 70 in pressing contact therewith, with theresult that the engageable member 70 is prevented from clockwiserotation (i.e. from film transport locking action) upon the transport offilm. Suchsituation will be experienced when the self-timer is actuatedprior to film transport. I

If the film is wound up in such case, the rotary member 96 will rotatein a counterclockwise direction, with the engageable member 70 retainedin the position of FIG. 11, and drive the disc 89 through the pins 960.Even when the link plate is freed from the retention at the left-handposition upon the the rotary member 96 reaching the position of FIG. 12,the lever 86 cannot move the engageable member 70 inasmuch as thearresting force on the engageable member 70'is greater than the force ofthe spring 87. Through further movement of the winding lever in thewinding direction, the rotary member 90 and the notched disc 89 reachthe overcocked position shown in FIG. 13 and stop to complete filmtransport. The engageable member 70, however, is still retained by therelease member 72, with the transport lock pawl 70a prevented fromentering the notch 89a.

When the winding lever 90 is freed from the operating force, the partsreturn in the reverse direction by the overcocked amount as alreadydescribed. At this time, the notched disc according to the conventionalconstruction will also rotate reversely, whereas in the case of thisembodiment, the notched disc 89 is braked by the braking member 97.Since there is play between the notched disc 89 and the rotary member 96which corresponds to the overcocked amount of the rotary member 96, thedisc remains in the stationary position of FIG. 13 despite the reverserotation of the rotary member 96, the transport lock pawl 706 thus beingengageable in the notch 89a.

If the depressing force acting on the shutter button 71 and releasemember 72 is removed upon completion of the winding operation as bycocking the self-timer again, the engageable member 70 will be freedfrom the release member 72, so that the transport lock pawl 70a willengage in the notch 89a of the disc 89 to lock the transport. At thesame time, the shutter can be released since the lock pawl 70b is out ofengagement with the release lock portion 72a.

FIGS. 14 to 17 show a ratchet gear 89' corresponding is provided as adriven member adapted to follow a rotary member which rotates inoperative relation to a film winding action. In the same manner as inFIG. 9,

the gear 89' is mounted above the unillustrated rotary member and isformed with a notch 89a. Instead of the aforementioned braking member97, there is provided a ratchet pawl urged by a spring 100 in in acounterclockwise direction and having a distal end in engagement withthe ratchet gear 89', the arrangement being such that during the filmwinding operation, the pqwl 101 brakes the gear 89' and latches the sameat the position where winding is completed against reverse rotation. Theparts similar to those of FIG. 9 are referred to by the same numerals.

FIG. 14 shows a release member 72 as it is depressed by shutter release.In this state, an engageable member 70 is unable to move out of thenotch 89a even if a locking effecting lever 86 is moved in a clockwisedirection, hence it is impossible to wind up the film.

When the shutter button (not shown) is freed from the hand, the releasemember will return upward, permitting the engageable member 70 to bringits lock pawl 70b into a release lock portion 72a of the release member72. Thus, the film can be wound'up and the shutter button (releasemember) will be locked.

When a film winding operation is performed in the state of FIG. 15, theshutter will be cocked (see FIG. 9), while the pins'96a on theunillustrated rotary member which rotates along with a spool shaft 95bring the ratchet gear 89' into rotation in the course of rotation byvirtue of engagement in the arcuate windows 89a. During rotation, theratchet gear 89' is subjected to a braking action by the pawl 101 (seeFIG. 16). Upon completion of the shutter cocking operation, the linkplate 85 is freed from retention at the left-hand position by means ofunillustrated means, whereupon the locking effecting lever 86 movescounterclockwise direction under the action of the spring 87 and urgesthe engageable member .70 in a clockwise direction.

Through further winding operation, the pawl 70a of the engageable member70 engages in the notch 890 as seen in FIG. 17 to lock the transport.

If a film winding operation is perfonned in the state of FIG. in whichthe release member 72 is subjected to a depressive force, with theengageable member 70 arrested by the release lock portion 72a againstclockwise rotation, the engageable member 70 will be unable to cause itspawl 70a to engage in the notch 89a even lease member is adapted to belocked in operative relation to the travel of the second blind, it willbe apparent that such locking action can be effectedin relation to thetravel of the first blind, reflecting mirror operating when the ratchetgear 89' reaches the locking position. 1

Further if the winding lever is relieved of the operating force in thisstate, the rotary member rotates reversely in a clockwise directionalong with the spool. shaft 95, whereas the ratchet gear 89' ispositively prevented from vreverserotation by the 'pawl 101 inengagement therewith. Accordingly, if the release member 72 is freedfrom the depressive force after the winding operation, the engageablemember 70 will be freed from the member 72 and moved clockwise by thelocking effecting lever 86 under the action of the spring 87. As aresult, the transport lock pawl 70a will engage in the notch 89a withthe pawl 70b disengaged from the release lock portion 72a. The shutteris therefore rendered releasable.

Although the present invention has been described with reference toembodiments in which the shutter remeans, diaphragm aperture operatingmeans or the like. Such modifications of mechanism are all includedwithin the scope of this invention insofar as they do not depart fromthe principle of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety apparatus for a shutter button in a camera comprising:

a rotary member rotatable to an overcocked position by a film windingoperation and reversely rotatable by the overcocked amount aftercompletion of the winding operation,

a driven member having a transport lock notch and supported on therotary member, the driven member being rotatable with respect to therotary member within such range as to permit the rotary member to rotateby the overcocked amount,

a release member having a release lock portion and downwardly movable bya shutter release operation and upwardly returnable when relieved of thereleasing force,

an engageable member having a portion engageable in anddisengageable'from the transport lock notch and another portionengageable in and disengageable from the release lock portion, theengageable member being positioned with at least one of the engageableand disengageable portions in engagement with one of the .notch and therelease lock portion,

means for urging the engageable member in 'a direction to force one ofthe engageable and disengageable portions to engage in the transportlock notch through the winding operation and in a reverse direction toforce the other engageable and disengageable portion to engage in therelease lock portion through the shutter release operation, the urgingmeans including a spring acting on the engageable member in a directionto disengage one of theengageable and disengageable portions from thetransport lock notch and to engage the other engageable. anddisengageable portion in the release lock portion and a lockingeffecting member urged by a spring stronger than the spring and actingon the engageable member in a direction reverse to the direction ofaction of the firstmentioned spring, the locking effecting member beingmovable in a diection away from the engageable member by the shutterrelease operation, and means for braking the driven member at least fromI an intermediate stage of the winding operation until the completion ofthe winding operation, the brakingmeans being operable to retain thedriven member at its transport lock position against reversiotation'upon the driven member reaching thisposition. v

2. The safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the engageablemember comprises the combination of a transport lock lever and a shutterbutton lock lever, the transport lock lever having a pawl engageable inand disengageable from the transport lock notch and urged by the springin a direction to disengage the pawl from the transport lock notch, theshutter button lock lever having a pawl engageable in and disengageablefrom the release lock portion and connected to the transport lock leverby a spring other than the aforementioned spring so as to follow thetransport lock action, the locking effecting member including brakingmeans for bringing its operation end into contact with the transportlock lever to urge the transport lock lever in a direction to engage itspawl in the transport lock notch through the winding operation so as tobrake the rotation of the driven member, the transport lock lever beingcapable of engaging its pawl in the transport lock notch against thespring connecting the shutter button lock lever to the transport locklever.

3. The safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means forbraking the driven member is a braking member separately provided tobrake the rotation of the driven member and the braking member preventsthe driven member from rotating reversely from its overcocked position.

4. The safety apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the engageablemember comprises one member having a portion engageable in anddisengageable from the transport lock notch and another portionengageable in and disengageable from the release lock portion.

5. The safety apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the brakingmember is in elastic contact with the driven member to frictionallybrake its rotation.

6. The safety apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means forbraking the driven member comprises ratchet teeth formed in the drivenmember, a rachet pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth so as toprevent the driven member from reversely rotating from its overcockedposition and a spring member for urging the pawl into engagement withthe ratchet teeth.

- "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION t BJSLQASADated Au ust 28; 1.973

1 venwr s HIROSHI NAKAMURA and AKIQ OKAMOTOT It is certified that garrorappears in the ab lpve identified patent and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

30 Fdrie ign Appligation Priority Data I I Attorneyw izanl y wold-erSigned and sealed this 27th day pf November 1973.

(SEAL) Attest: I I I EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. I I Q RENE D. TEGTME YERAttesting Officer I I I Acting Commissioner .of Patents FORM P'15 (10$?)I I USIZKDMM-DC 60376-9459 1; us. eovuupuwr ranmus orncs: nu o-au-s'uUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3354454D iggust 28. 1973 ln e fl HIROSHI NAKAMURA and AKIO OKAMO'IO It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

30 Foreign Application Priority Data 1, 197300.00:0.ooa4c0o47l3782Attorney Stanley Welder Signed and sealed this 27th day of November1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEY-ER Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 R GOVERNMENT PQINTING OFFICE2 i989 0-SS5-33l FORMvPO-105O (10-69) h

1. A safety apparatus for a shutter button in a camera comprising: arotary member rotatable to an overcocked position by a film windingoperation and reversely rotatable by the overcocked amount aftercompletion of the winding operation, a driven member having a transportlock notch and supported on the rotary member, the driven member beingrotatable with respect to the rotary member within such range as topermit the rotary member to rotate by the overcocked amount, a releasemember having a release lock portion and downwardly movable by a shutterrelease operation and upwardly returnable when relieved of the releasingforce, an engageable member having a portion engageable in anddisengageable from the transport lock notch and another portionengageable in and disengageable from the release lock portion, theengageable member being positioned with at least one of the engageableand disengageable portions in engagement with one of the notch and therelease lock portion, means for urging the engageable member in adirection to force one of the engageable and disengageable portions toengage in the transport lock notch through the winding operation and ina reverse direction to force the other engageable and disengageableportion to engage in the release lock portion through the shutterrelease operation, the urging means including a spring acting on theen-gageable member in a direction to disengage one of the engageable anddisengageable portions from the transport lock notch and to engage theother engageable and disengageable portion in the release lock portionand a locking effecting member urged by a spring stronger than thespring and acting on the engageable member in a direction reverse to thedirection of action of the firstmentioned spring, the locking effectingmember being movable in a diection away from the engageable member bythe shutter release operation, and means for braking the driven memberat least from an intermediate stage of the winding operation until thecompletion of the winding operation, the braking means being operable toretain the driven member at its transport lock position against reverserotation upon the driven member reaching this position.
 2. The safetyapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the engageable membercomprises the combination of a transport lock lever and a shutter buttonlock lever, the transport lock lever having a pawl engageable in anddisengageable from the transport lock notch and urged by the spring in adirection to disengage the pawl from the transport lock notch, theshutter button lock lever having a pawl engageable in and disengageablefrom the release lock portion and connected to the transport lock leverby a spring other than the aforementioned spring so as to follow thetransport lock action, the locking effecting member including brakingmeans for bringing its operation end into contact with the transportlock lever to urge the transport lock lever in a direction to engage itspawl in the transport lock notch through the winding operation so as tobrake the rotation of the driven member, the tranSport lock lever beingcapable of engaging its pawl in the transport lock notch against thespring connecting the shutter button lock lever to the transport locklever.
 3. The safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the meansfor braking the driven member is a braking member separately provided tobrake the rotation of the driven member and the braking member preventsthe driven member from rotating reversely from its overcocked position.4. The safety apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the engageablemember comprises one member having a portion engageable in anddisengageable from the transport lock notch and another portionengageable in and disengageable from the release lock portion.
 5. Thesafety apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the braking member isin elastic contact with the driven member to frictionally brake itsrotation.
 6. The safety apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein themeans for braking the driven member comprises ratchet teeth formed inthe driven member, a rachet pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth soas to prevent the driven member from reversely rotating from itsovercocked position and a spring member for urging the pawl intoengagement with the ratchet teeth.